Improvement in car-couplings



NrrED STATES HENRY D. GOLDSMITH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of L-ttexs Patent No. 149,650, dated April 14, 1874, apjlication iilel February 14, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY D. GoLDsMrrH, Aof the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Car-Coupling, of which the following is a specification:

Figure l is a longitudinal section of my improved coupling, shown as applied to two adjacent cars. Fig. 2 is an under-side View of the same. Figi is a front view of one part of the coupling.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

lhe invention will first be fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

The invention consists in the combination of the cross-bars, the pins, and the rubber blocks with the draw-heads, for connecting them with the frames of thecars 5 in the conlbination of the catch-plate, the notched and pivoted coupling-bar,the lever, and its chain and pin with the draw-heads of the cars; in the combination of the spring with the drawhead, vthe catch-plate, and the notched and pivoted coupling-bar; in the combination of the chain and Yrod with the uncoupling-chain and lever, and the coupling-bar; in the combination of the cord with the uncoupling pin, chain, and lever, and the coupling-bar; and in the combination of the set-screw with the draw head and the pivoted and notched coup ling-bar, as hereinafter described.

. A and B represent the adjacent drawheads of two contiguous cars, the middle part of the upper sides of which have long transverse notches formed in them to receive the crossbars G, which are bolted to the frame-work of the cars, and with which the said draw-heads are connected by rods D-two to each-which are passed longitudinally through the upper parts of the said draw-heads from their inner ends, and pass through the said bars (l, so as to support the draw-heads, and allow them to have a longitudinal play. rIhe rods D are kept in place by the rubber blocks E, placed at the rear ends of the draw-heads, and which receive the shock, and, by their elasticity, diminish the jar as the cars are run together. The draw-head A is slotted longitudinally to receive the coupling-bar F, which is pivoted 'to the lower part of the forward'end of the said draw-head A. The outer end of the couplingbar F is beveled off, and has a notch formed in" its upper side to catch upon the catch-plate of the draw-head B.v The inner end of the coupling-bar F is made the heavier, so as to hold its outer end raised. The height to which the outer end of the couplingbar F rises is regulated by a set-screw, G, which passes down through the forward end of the draw-head A, and projects for the coupling-bar F to strike against. His a lever, the rear end of which is'pivoted to the rear part of the draw-head A, and to its middle part is attached the lower end of a chain, I, which passes up through a slot in the platform of the car, and around guide-pulleys pivoted in said slots; and its upper end is attached to the lower end of a pin, J, which passes through a support, K, attached to said platform. The chain I is made of such a length as .to prevent the forward end of the lever H from dropping too low. The forward end of the lever H is supported below the inner end of the coupling-bar F, so that, by pulling upon the chain I, the forward end of the said coupling-bar F is lowered to detach it from the catch-plate of the draw-head B. To the chain I is attached the end of a short chain, L, to the other endof which is attached the end of a rod, M, that slides in keepers attached to the forward edge of the platform, so that, by pulling upon the rod M, the cars may be uncoupled from the side of the track. The forward end of the draw-head B is beveled, and upon its lower side is formed a recess to receive the notched outer end of the coupling-bar F. To the inclined forward end of the draw-head B is secured a steel plate, N, the lower end of which is notched to receive the notched end of the coupling-bar F. To the lower side of the draw-head B is secured a spring, O, the free end of which projects beneath the end of the coupling-bar F to prevent it from jarring oft' the catch-plate N. The free end of the spring O is bent downward to prevent it from catching upon the bar F when the cars are run together. To the eye of the pin J is attached a cord, P, which passes through guide-eyes attached tothe top of the cars or tender, or in supports Q attached to said cars or tender, and extends forward to PATENT @Prion N the engine, so that the engineer can uncouple M with the chain I, lever H, and coupling-bar his engine and tender from the train when de- F, substantially as shown and described. sired. t 3. The combination of the cord P with the Having,` thus described my invention, I pin and chain J I, lever H, and coupling-bar claim as new and desire to secure by Letters F, substantially as shown and described. Patent- 4. The combination of the set-screw G with 1. The combination of the catch -plate N, the draw-head A and pivoted couplingbar F, notched and pivoted coupling-bar F, lever H, substantially as shown and described. and chain and pin l J With the draw-heads of Witnesses: HENRY D. GOLDSMITH. the cars. substantially as shown and described. JAMES T. GRAHAM,

2. The combination of the chain and rod L T. B. MOSHER. 

